Fujifilm's 2010 superzoom bridge (US S1770) — 12MP behind a 15x 28-420mm zoom, AA-powered.
The Fujifilm FinePix S1600 was a bridge superzoom announced in early 2010, sold in the US market as the FinePix S1770. It formed part of Fuji's entry-level FinePix S line, introduced alongside the S1800 and the longer-reach S2500HD. Positioned as an affordable route into SLR-style shooting, it offered a fixed long zoom and DSLR-shaped body without the expense of a system camera.
The S1600 paired a 1/2.3-inch CCD of 12.2 effective megapixels with a 15x optical zoom spanning a 28-420mm equivalent range, at a maximum aperture of F3.1 wide to F5.6 telephoto. A 3.0-inch LCD of roughly 230,000 dots was joined by a 0.2-inch electronic viewfinder of about 200,000 dots. Video capture ran to 1280x720 at 30 frames per second, stabilisation was CCD-shift, and the camera used four AA batteries.
The S1600 suited general daylight shooting and travel where zoom reach and a viewfinder mattered more than sensor size. The grip and EVF gave it a compact-SLR feel, and AA power kept it easy to run on trips. Its CCD sensor and modest apertures limited low-light use, and focus lag at full zoom was typical of the class, as was visible noise once ISO climbed.
On the used market, cycle the zoom to check for grit or grinding in the barrel and examine the LCD and EVF for dead pixels. The AA battery-door hinge is a known Fuji bridge weak spot, so confirm it snaps shut and holds; check the card-door latch and inspect for sensor dust in flat bright frames. Values are low, driven by condition; the 18x S2500HD is a natural step up, and the older S1500 a cheaper step down.